Brea P.D. could leave Yorba Linda early

In this file photo, Brea police Chief Jack Conklin sits behind Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens as they listen to an independent consultant during an April City Council meeting to decide the city of Yorba Linda's future policing options. The Sheriff's Department won the contract, and it now appears the county agency will start patrolling Yorba Linda earlier than the original May takeover date. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Brea police made two eleventh-hour offers hoping to hold on to their police services contract with Yorba Linda but, after being rebuffed twice, Brea officials seem to have had enough. Instead of waiting for the end of the contract in May, Brea may pull out of Yorba Linda – possibly as early as two weeks from now.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department is now working on a plan to expedite its takeover of police services in the city, said Capt. Steve Doan of the Orange County Sheriff's Department. The department could be in charge of patrolling the 20-square-mile city by Jan. 5.

"We're gearing up, ready to go should Brea decide they don't have the staffing," Doan said.

Since the Yorba Linda City Council decided to award a five-year contract to the Sheriff's Department in April, the Sheriff's Department has hired 21 Brea Police officers. Those officers have been sworn and absorbed into the ranks of the Sheriff's Department, including 19 patrol officers, one sergeant and one investigator, Doan said.

Those 19 officers, who are now deputies, were assigned duties throughout the county, but they will be brought back to Yorba Linda when the Sheriff's Department takes over, Doan said. Another seven deputies from the department's North County operations will be assigned to Yorba Linda.

"We're having discussions about an earlier transition date," Brea police Chief Jack Conklin said, adding that he's recently spoken with Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. He declined to specify a date, saying he needs to get an OK from Yorba Linda as well as make sure the Sheriff's Department is ready to take over.

But the pressure is there; in addition to the officers he's lost to the Sheriff's Department, six other officers, fearing for their jobs, have departed for other law enforcement agencies.

That's made it difficult for Conklin to field enough officers to cover both Brea and Yorba Linda, though the chief said he's been able to meet policing needs in both cities.

After Tuesday's meeting, Doan said Brea officials contacted the Sheriff's department to discuss the possibility of handing over policing duties in January, five months faster than it was initially anticipated.

"They are down in staffing and they don't have the ability to serve Brea and Yorba Linda easily," Doan said.

With about 100 sworn officers in the Brea Police Department, just under half of them were assigned duties in Yorba Linda.

"We're under pretty significant hardship to maintain those obligations," Conklin said. The department is doing so by paying plenty of overtime—he would not say how much.

Sheriff and Yorba Linda officials are also working on a supplemental contract that would specify the details of their agreement from January to May, since the current contract would not take effect until then.

Specifics on how Yorba Linda and Brea would terminate their contract early were not immediately clear.

The new Yorba Linda contract would put an end to a 42-year partnership between the two cities, through which Brea Police officers have provided policing services to Yorba Linda.

In April, the former council voted 3-2 – with Yorba Linda Mayor Tom Lindsey on the minority side – to award a new contract to the Sheriff's Department. Since then, Brea officials have twice tried to lure Yorba Linda back with new proposals.

The first attempt this summer was rebuffed with a similar 3-2 vote. The last attempt ended Tuesday, after a debate stretching hours over two council meetings. The City Council voted 3-2 against Lindsey's proposal to reopen negotiations on the contract.

Brea Police officers were also offered $10,000 bonuses if they remained with Brea, an offer that was apparently rejected by 21 officers.

After the contract with the Sheriff's Department, there were also plans expand a city building from which Yorba Linda deputies could base their operations, but Doan said the department could make due with the current space in the meantime.

Sheriff's Lt. Bob Wren, who will serve as Yorba Linda's chief of police services, has said he's spent more than $1 million to purchase equipment for the turnover, including police cruisers, body armor, radios, and other items.

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.